Raising trailer to level up with truck.

Iam purchasing a new 350 Ford and from what I can see the back of my 2008 BigHorn wil look lower. What do you think I can do to level this so it doesn't look like the back is dragging?? Any Suggestions
 

cookie

Administrator
Staff member
Well I guess the first thing you will need to do is hitch up. Then measure your Bighorn to see if it is level or not. If it is lower in the back, you may have to lower the hitch in your truck. Or if that is not possible, raise the pin box.
You need to be hitched up on level ground then measure the Bighorn frame to ground.

Peace
Dave
 

KENNY COCHRAN

MCNEESE STATE COWBOYS #1
I don't think you will have a problem. I have a 2004 f-250 diesel, long wheel base with a 2010, 3670rl rig. Pulls fine and is level enough for me. No air bags or anything.
 

GOTTOYS

Well-known member
Newr trucks are higher than the old ones. Adjusting the pinbox to lower the front of the trailer might work but make sure you still have enough clearance above the bedrails....Don
 

hoefler

Well-known member
Take a look at the suspension on your trailer. On my Landmark, it had holes 2" below the spring pin holes and MoRyde equalizer mounting holes. I raised my coach and moved the springs and equalizers to the lower holes and now it is almost perfectly level hooked to my 2010 4X4 ram.
 

KL7j

Active Member
Iam purchasing a new 350 Ford and from what I can see the back of my 2008 BigHorn wil look lower. What do you think I can do to level this so it doesn't look like the back is dragging?? Any Suggestions

The new Fords are higher bed and rail.
Is your truck a single rear wheel 4X4, with the 20" rims or a dually? You will find the 2011 single rear wheel F350 truck is the highest bed rail height of all brands. The dually has smaller tires and sits lower. There are 3" high rubber spacers on the F350 SRW axle to spring assembly and Ford would not allow removal and maintain warranty. Depending on your RV frame being 8", 10', or whatever models (that affects overhang height according to Heartland engineers), getting 5" bedrail clearance once the unit is level can be an issue. I had a 2011 F350 single rear wheel, Crew, short bed 4X4 diesel, the BH 3055 still was not exactly level with the bed 5th hitch at lowest setting and barely 5" rail clearance.

A photo link of the truck and 5th on a level asphalt truck stop. Not bad but not level either. Think you have to be logged in to view this link:
//heartlandowners.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=10853&d=1288939630
 
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westxsrt10

Perfict Senior Member
Iam purchasing a new 350 Ford and from what I can see the back of my 2008 BigHorn wil look lower. What do you think I can do to level this so it doesn't look like the back is dragging?? Any Suggestions

I had the same problem as my 250 4x4 bed is way high compaired to other trucks. There is a fairly easy fix and I have posted how to do this a few times. (8 longer u-bolts, 4 pinned blocks installed between the spring pack and axle base.) Without the blocks I had only 4" clearance from the bed rail to the bottom of the trailer. Towing our 5th wheel 4"-5" high in the front was not a option for me.
 

LBallard

Well-known member
I have 2011 F-350 KR long bed with 20" wheels. I also have the 25K Reese hitch from Ford. My coach is 08' Bighorn RL3370. The only thing I did was raise the hitch to the 17" adjustment to get 6 - 7" bed rail clearance. Everything appears level while towing. It tows just fine.
 

porthole

Retired
Iam purchasing a new 350 Ford and from what I can see the back of my 2008 BigHorn wil look lower. What do you think I can do to level this so it doesn't look like the back is dragging?? Any Suggestions

You really need to mention "which F350".

The bed height of the 2011 F-350 DRW is the same as my 2006 GMC short bed. That's about 2-3" lower then all the SRW trucks.
 

KL7j

Active Member
I have 2011 F-350 KR long bed with 20" wheels. I also have the 25K Reese hitch from Ford. My coach is 08' Bighorn RL3370. The only thing I did was raise the hitch to the 17" adjustment to get 6 - 7" bed rail clearance. Everything appears level while towing. It tows just fine.

What is the truck, 2 wheel drive or 4X4 ?
Is that 3370 a 10" or 12" frame?
 

herefishy

Well-known member
I had the same problem as my 250 4x4 bed is way high compaired to other trucks. There is a fairly easy fix and I have posted how to do this a few times. (8 longer u-bolts, 4 pinned blocks installed between the spring pack and axle base.) Without the blocks I had only 4" clearance from the bed rail to the bottom of the trailer. Towing our 5th wheel 4"-5" high in the front was not a option for me.
Could you please put in a link to that fix? I can't find it with a search.
 

westxsrt10

Perfict Senior Member
Could you please put in a link to that fix? I can't find it with a search.
I can't find the link either but this is how its done.
I bought 8ea. 2" longer U-bolts with XH nuts from Summit racing. Made 4 blocks from 1 1/2" x 1/4"x 5" long square tube, drilled 9/16" hole on center top of the block to match the spring pin securing the block. (blocks could be welded to the top of the axle saddle spring base).
Install one block at a time by lowing/raising the axle near the wheel with a floor jack. Photo shows the block installed, I would not add more than 2" tall block.
 

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herefishy

Well-known member
Thanks for the info on raising the trailer, this really makes sense. I guess there wouldn't be any safety issues, would there?
 

caissiel

Senior Member
I was looking at the tailgate height of all the SD ford for 2011 and it looks like that that they are the same height within 1/2".
Might be to high for all of them though.

PS I like your bump stops WESTXSRt, I was looking for some to add on my unit, Where did you get them
 

westxsrt10

Perfict Senior Member
Thanks for the info on raising the trailer, this really makes sense. I guess there wouldn't be any safety issues, would there?
I have seen people use 5" blocks without any problems but using quality U-bolts torqued properly is the key for sure. I would never suggest any mod that is unsafe.
 

westxsrt10

Perfict Senior Member
I was looking at the tailgate height of all the SD ford for 2011 and it looks like that that they are the same height within 1/2".
Might be to high for all of them though.

PS I like your bump stops WESTXSRt, I was looking for some to add on my unit, Where did you get them
We take our Sundance where no RV should go so the bumpstops seemed like a good idea... I used some of the axel block tubing under the bump stop. http://www.energysuspensionparts.com/proddetail.asp?prod=191317&PARTNER=bing
 

hoefler

Well-known member
A lot safer than blocking. If you use spacer blocks between the spring and axle, you increase the risk of tearing the axle from the spring. The taller the block, the greater rotational torque on the spring when the brakes are applieds or you hit a chuck hole. If the blocking gets very high, a torque limiter of some kind will need to be installed. I have seen where people have installed blocks to match their lifted 4x4 to get the trailer level and have had there axles torn out from under the trailer. Not a pretty sight.
 
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